THE recent sunny weather has kept lifeboat crews busy, with four rescues in five days.

Salcombe's two lifeboats were called to a variety of rescues from a motorboat with engine trouble, a GB Row 2013 boat with electrical failure, a yacht with steering failure and kayakers in difficulty.

The all-weather lifeboat the Baltic Exchange III was called to the aid of a 25m motorboat which had suffered engine failure three nautical miles south of Salcombe last Wednesday. Thalassa was towed back into the harbour where it was put onto a mooring to await repair.

The following day saw the launch of the all-weather lifeboat again, this time to a rowing boat which was taking part in the Round Britain GB Row 2013 challenge.

Pure Gym's crew of four had battled all night to repair the electrics which had stopped working at 10.30pm the previous evening.

Unable to fix the electrical systems, which control water-making and navigation, the crew contacted Brixham Coastguard for assistance.

Once on scene, Baltic Exchange III launched its inflatable to transfer crew members to the lifeboat and established a tow with the rowing boat. The Pure Gym was then towed into Salcombe and moored at the lifeboat pontoon at Victoria Quay.

The Pure Gym crew left Salcombe again on Friday, following repair work, to continue to complete the round-Britain course but, according to the rules, the rescue had ruled them out of the competition.

A recurrence of the electrical problem led to the team taking the 'heartbreaking' decision to abandon their attempt on Monday, after they had reached Penzance.